Representatives of the country’s leading industrial groups have called for the formulation of a clear law or policy regarding the publication of research reports by private organisations.
Speaking at a public hearing organised by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), they demanded that regulatory bodies be informed and given the opportunity to verify findings before reports concerning microplastics or harmful elements in consumer products – such as toothpaste – are made public.
The hearing, held on Thursday at the BSTI headquarters in Tejgaon, was attended by Director General (Secretary) Kazi Imdadul Hoque as the chief guest and Ministry of Industries Joint Secretary Dr Md Saiful Islam as the special guest.
Concerns over ‘media trials’ and commercial losses
During the session, industry leaders argued that the publication of unverified or incomplete research leads to “media trials” and negative propaganda on social media, which creates confusion among consumers and inflicts severe damage on the reputation and market standing of businesses.
Md Sohel Hossain, senior legal counsel for Legal and Regulatory Affairs at Square Group, noted that toothpaste is a product under BSTI’s mandatory standards.
He added that private research firms should have consulted the regulator before releasing findings, as unrecognised methodologies can lead to public panic and significant commercial losses.
Supporting this view, Md Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan, Advisor for International Marketing at Olympic Industries, cited a past incident where bakery products were allegedly found to contain potassium bromate.
Although subsequent tests by BSTI-accredited laboratories and the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) found no such substance, the negative publicity caused irreparable damage to the businesses involved.
BSTI to review international standards for microplastics
In response to these concerns, BSTI Director General Kazi Imdadul Hoque emphasised that while the institution values high-quality research as a guide for the nation, it must not create unnecessary public alarm.
Regarding the issue of microplastics in toothpaste, he clarified that there is currently no set international standard for its levels and stated that an expert committee would meet to review ISO and other international standards to determine the necessary steps.
Beyond research transparency, the hearing addressed measures to ensure a business-friendly environment, including the introduction of online payment systems, digital submission for all documents, and the processing of both new product and licence renewal applications entirely online.
Furthermore, discussions were held regarding the formulation of “Bangladesh Standards” for “growing-up milk” for children aged three to five and updating specific clauses of the regulations for packaged products.
The event saw participation from high-level officials of prominent companies, including Md Parvez Saiful Islam (CEO, Square Food & Beverage), Kamruzzaman Kamal (marketing director, PRAN-RFL Group), Bishad Zaman (head of RSA, Nestlé Bangladesh), Moin Uddin Ahmed Khan (GM Supply Chain, Bangladesh Edible Oil Ltd), Md Kamrul Hasan (head of QA, QC & Compliance, Transcom Consumer Products), Md Mehedi Hasan (head of Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, Akij Resource), Ali Akbar Majumder (manager SCM, New Zealand Dairy Bangladesh Ltd), and Md Nazimul Islam (GM Production & Quality, ACI Food & Beverage).
Representatives from Unilever Bangladesh, Marico Bangladesh, Meghna Group, Reckitt Benckiser, Arla Foods, Ifad Group, Nabisco Biscuit, and Mega Group of Industries were also in attendance to provide recommendations for improving BSTI’s services.
